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I have been picking and chopping away at guitars for the better part of my now pretty long life and have never used a capo . . . . OK time for my stupid question, other than being able to play "open chords" further down the guitar neck and I guess it would make finger picking a bit eaiser, is there any other reason to use a capo?
Never too old to learn,
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... other than being able to play "open chords" further down the guitar neck ...
What other reason do you need? Yes you can always play the chords required in closed (barre) positions, but open chords just sound different. For acoustic type songs I like playing one guitar in regular position and then using a capo further up to get more sound variation.
Kevin
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A quick way to get 'drop-E' tuning is to clamp the capo across the top 5 strings at fret 2.
Also once you are used to it, playing acoustic guitar in horn-based bands just seems easier (I know, the two don't really mix all that well!)
As Kevin points out, it can also lend a different timbre to a song. Some certain sweetness in open chords on 5th-7th frets that you just can't get by fretting alone.
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Keyboard players got auto transpose..... Guitarists got capo's.
Hey an they're good if you got short arms too! ;o)
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You probably don't need a capo if you're just playing chords,
although some beginners have trouble with barre chords and a capo comes in handy there.
It's also invaluable if you've learned to 'pick' a melody in open position, but you find
you need to play it in a totally different key.
Also, as a great guitar-pickin' relative of mine says
"some things just sound better 2 frets up".
The question for me on the capo has always been "how do you pronounce it?"
I've heard both KAY-po and CAPP-oh
Is there any definitive answer on that?
LLOYD S
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capolloyd, kay-po is correct. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/capo?qsrc=2888chet atkins, mark o'connor, doc watson, etc used them. early 12-string guitar makers suggested to tune them to 'D so you will see gordon lightfoot, et al, with a capo on the 2nd fret. i like the sound of an acoustic guitar with a capo.
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Yes I think the different sounds you get are the key. And some chord progressions are just easier to play to certain positions.
James Taylor uses one a lot.
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Thanks for all the responses guys, pretty much what I'd thought with the exception of the very popular, " it just might sound better" answers.
I may have to try one of them Kay-po or maybe even a capo before too long. Heck it would be the lowest priced musical tool I ever purchased, guitar picks with standing.
Thanks guys,
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musicianship is not a factor so it must be the timbre of the instrument that the artist is trying to achieve. back to 'it just might sound better' i guess!?
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Danny, I use a capo because some of the songs that I sing are in keys that I find difficult to play on the guitar - like Ab, Bb, Eb, Db etc. I'm not great at barring chords so it's easier for me to play in C for example and put a capo on fret 3, than to try to play in Eb without one (impossible for me). Some keys are easy on the guitar, some are very difficult for less competent players - this is where the capo comes in. 
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Quote:
Danny, I use a capo because some of the songs that I sing are in keys that I find difficult to play on the guitar - like Ab, Bb, Eb, Db etc. I'm not great at barring chords so it's easier for me to play in C for example and put a capo on fret 3, than to try to play in Eb without one (impossible for me). Some keys are easy on the guitar, some are very difficult for less competent players - this is where the capo comes in.
Capo on 3 is the most common position for me as well.
As Mel points out, playing in Eb no problem; open C open F, open G the most common chords. Playing in F is simply Open D, Open G, open A, etc. Typical keys for arrangers to write in for horn-based tunes which is what our worship band at church plays typically - even if the horns aren't playing! It's how we buy our music - purchased for full horn arrangement just in case we use them that weekend.
I really don't know of anyone who can get a clean barred sound that rings out like a good capo'ed open chord sound. Also playing in this fashion allows to do the alternative open G shape where both the b and e strings are fretted (I actually anchor down my ring finger on the b string 'f' for the open D/C/G shapes for a little flavor on the open G and Open C (which turns it into F2).
Now, this is almost entirely related to strummed chords on my part. But I can finger pick easier with open chords as well - at least with grace notes and what-not.
Move that capo on up into 5-7 fret territory and now you are starting to get a slight mandolin timbre to things which can go very well with certain types of music.
-Scott
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Not sure if I got the gist of the question, but don't we use a capo when we want to play a song in a different key? It's a transposing device. That it enables us to play open chords further down the neck is a fringe benefit.
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Quote:
Not sure if I got the gist of the question, but don't we use a capo when we want to play a song in a different key? It's a transposing device. That it enables us to play open chords further down the neck is a fringe benefit.
Although some use it as a "transposing" device (see Mel's post), I primarily use it "to play open chords further down the neck". As a side note, you capo/transpose so you can play open chords in other keys like Bb, Eb etc. If you were using all barre chords, then the capo would not be required.
Kevin
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I never used a capo before I started having arthritis in my joints. That's really the only reason I do use one these days.
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Mike
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I use one for "Here comes the Sun"
'cuz dats how it's played!
I use a Kyser. I remember when they were clear plastic tubing covering a metal rod attached with an elastic cord.
Scotts method of placement works but as I go up the neck sometimes I'll put it back some or even diagonal to get it out of the way. With electronic tuners on the guitar it's a quick tune.
DTuna
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I have nothing against them, but I've never used one.
For the kind of music I play, there isn't much need for open string chords (or cowboy chords as a guitarist I know calls them).
I learned barre chords first, and I actually find them easier - they make transposing easy and actually require less hand gymnastics. But I play an electric with light gauge strings and low action.
I have read that using a capo will make your guitar a little sharp, and if you add a barre chord on top of the capo (like F position which is pretty unavoidable) it makes the guitar even sharper -- but I don't know if is enough for most people to hear.
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Quote:
I have nothing against them, but I've never used one.
For the kind of music I play, there isn't much need for open string chords (or cowboy chords as a guitarist I know calls them).
I learned barre chords first, and I actually find them easier - they make transposing easy and actually require less hand gymnastics. But I play an electric with light gauge strings and low action.
I have read that using a capo will make your guitar a little sharp, and if you add a barre chord on top of the capo (like F position which is pretty unavoidable) it makes the guitar even sharper -- but I don't know if is enough for most people to hear.
Insights and incites by Notes
Many would disagree on the 'hand gymnastics' comment!
The thing that kicked off this thread was likely my tip on how to use a capo so it doesn't noticeably make the guitar tune sharp. See other thread in this forum.
I use any combination of barre and open and other chords as necessary for the sound I'm looking for. Using only barre chords can make for a dull player/song.
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I just remembered that last month during February Album Writing Month, I used a capo to let me play in open G with the ringing notes and all in this song: http://fawm.org/songs/4780/ That will bring up a page with a link to the song, the lyrics, etc. I think I had the capo on the 5th fret. Open chord shapes used: G, D, C, Em I think that was it. Try playing that with barre chords and get the same kind of jangly tone - just not going to happen. This was a one mic, one take, little bit of improv on the outro. The LDC mic I was using was sensitive enough to pick up the guitar in a reasonable balance for the demo of the song. I will definitely be working on this one. Moving to Colorado next month and that inspired the lyrics to this song. Putting the capo on the 5th fret (maybe 4th, I don't really remember) and just messing around with some typical chord shapes inspired the music. I had the thing put together in an hour. So, chalk that up to another reason to use a capo - it can be inspiring.
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nice tune...nice mix...nice guitar sound and vox, scott. is it just me or does everything pan left at the end?
does your moving to colorado mean the auto makers are dying?
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Quote:
nice tune...nice mix...nice guitar sound and vox, scott. is it just me or does everything pan left at the end?
does your moving to colorado mean the auto makers are dying?
Should be no panning - it was a single mic recording.
I've simply found a more promising opportunity. Very hard decision.
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